This book presents the entire span of the film medium, from its first beginnings to the present, in a global perspective. By taking a chronological approach, yet incorporating such themes as aesthetics, technology, craft and social impact, Robert Sklar provides a complete analysis of the major films, directors and national cinemas, as well as a grounding in the social, economic and political foundations crucial to an understanding of film as both art and industry. The readable text covers not only commercial and narrative film but also animation, documentaries, art cinema and the cinematic avant-garde. All significant periods and styles are explored in depth. Entire chapters are devoted to fields such as Italian Neo-realism; the French New Wave; Soviet silent cinema; Hollywood genres; documentaries, propaganda and politics; and the cinema of Liberation. Substantial sections are devoted to the films of Australia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Japan, China, Africa, the Middle East, India and other cultures. Fascinating reference features amplify ancillary material introduced in the main text, and six timelines place all the components in a historical context. It is illustrated by more than 750 film stills, frame enlargements, production shots and diagrams. The 120 full-colour images include rare examples of early hand-tinting, pre-cinema technology, two- and three-colour Technicolor and other innovations, as well as stills from modern films.